Connectable box structures

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to box structures and, more particularly, to box structures connectable in such a manner to form a chain of interconnected structures. More, particularly, this invention relates to box structures which are connected through magnetic members so as to simulate the appearance of interconnected cars of an elongated train assembly. The magnetic members may be mounted interiorly or exteriorly of the box structure which, in turn, may have wheel support assemblies for contact and ease of movement on the support surface.

United States Patent [191 Gray Aug. 27, 1974 CONNECTABLE BOX STRUCTURES[76] Inventor: Joseph Roy Gray, Rt. 3, Box 139,

Bixby, Okla. 74008 [22] Filed: May 8, 1972 21 Appl. No.2 251,328

[52] US. Cl 229/8, 46/11, 206/818 [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/00 {58] Field ofSearch 229/8; 46/1'1; 213/75 TC,

213/75 D; 206/DIG. 33; 220/234 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 979,812 12/1910 Warren 229/8 1,928,323 9/1933 Sweitzer.... 46/111,932,368 10/1933 Bowen 229/8 2,226,287 12/1940 Miller 213/75 D2,500,180 3/1950 Hubbell 213/75 D 2,607,157 8/1952 Smith 213/75 TC2,823,844 2/1958 Frankenstein 229/8 3,078,183 2/1963 Karalus 206/D1G. 333,261,619 7/1966 Norgaard, Jr. et a1 229/8 Primary Examiner-William 1.Price Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus [5 7] ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 4Drawing Figures CONNECTABLE BOX STRUCTURES In the prior art, it is knownthat there are box structures and magnetic elements but they are notpresented in such a fashion so as to interconnect adjacent boxstructures to form an elongated train or train-like structure. Also,nothing is known in the prior art wherein a container of cookies,candies, etc. can be readily converted and used when empty as a toystructure.

In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a plu rality ofconnectable boxes are provided each having their own illustration on theexterior thereof representing a train car feature. Each box structure isof generally rectangular shape having a housing means provided atopposite ends with connector means for attaching adjacent ones thereof.The housing means is provided with a main body or housing member havingan upper open section and a lid member hinged on the housing member soas to be primarily usable to contain cookie members or the like thereinwhen sold in, for example a supermarket. The housing means can besupported on its bottom wall or may be provided with a plurality,namely, four tab members which can be turned down in sets to receivetherethrough a shaft member having a wheel on opposite ends thereof soas to provide a wheel support surface. The connector means may either beconstructed in an interior or exterior type connectors. The exteriorconnectors may be anchored to the end walls of the housing member or maybe supplied within the housing member and included a magnetic memberhaving on one side thereof an adhesive strip portion which can beactivated so as to be readily attachable to opposite upright end wallsof the housing member. If the interior type connectors are used, theyinclude a magnetic member which is secured by an adhesive strip to theinterior of the box so that when the box structures are placed adjacentto each other, they will be completely abutted at their end walls.

One object of this invention is provided a plurality of box structureswhich can be interconnected through magnetic members to form a simulatedelongated train structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide box structures that aregenerally rectangular shaped which can be used to house crackers,cookies, candies or the like, and, after container usage, are providedat opposite upright end walls with magnetic connector means forattaching adjacent ones thereof to create a toy structure.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a box structureincluding a rectangular shaped housing means and having magneticconnector means at opposite upright end walls downwardly movable topmembers, each cooperating pair adapted to receive an axle and shafttherethrough with wheel mambers on opposite ends thereof so as to prsenta wheel support assembly similar to that of a train member.

One further object of this invention is to provide connectable boxstructures which are economical to manufacture; simple to assemble tosimulate a train structure; readily connected and disconnected, andpresents a toy structure from box structures which are normallydiscarded adding to the pollution problem.

Various other objects, advantages, and features, of this invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdiscussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of interconnected ones of the boxstructures of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a box structure of this inventionshowing its lid member in the open condition in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of an end portion of the box ofthis invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a support assemblyof the box structure of this invention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specificembodiments of the new connectable box structures of this invention,such being made with reference to the drawings whereupon the samereference numerals may be used to indicate the same and similar and/orstructure. It is to be understood that such discussion is not to undulythe limit and scope of the invention.

In one preferred embodiment of this invention and referring to FIG. 1, aplurality of connectable box structures 12 are shown beinginterconnected end to end. Each box structure 12 is provided adescriptive indicia l4 thereon whereupon the box structure 12 indicatedat 12A is shown with locomotive engine type indicia. The box structure12 indicated at 12 B is shown with a box car indicia thereon and thethird box structure 12 indicated at 12 C is shown with a caboose indiciathereon.

Each box structure 12 is of a similar construction except for theindicia thereon, therefore, a detailed description of FIGS. 2, 3, 4 willsuffice for all the various types of box structures 12A, 12B, and 12C.

As shown in FIG. 2, the box structure 12 is provided with a housingmeans 16 having a connector means 18 thereon. It is understood that thehousing means 16 can be provided with a simulated wheel support meansindicia as indicated at 20 or attachable wheel assemblies 22 as will bedescribed.

The housing means 16 resembles in size a brick member and includes amain body or housing member 24 provided with a lid member 26 connectedthereto and including the wheel support assemblies 22. The housingmember 24 includes a bottom wall 28, upright side walls 30, and opposedendwalls 32 to form an inner cavity as indicated at 34. The housingmember 24 is of a rectangular box shape so as to readily receive throughan upper opening 36 either crackers, candy, cookie members or the likein its initial condition so as to be usable as a container means.

The lid member 26 is formed with a main section 38 hinged to the housingmember 24 along an upper edge 40 in a conventional manner. The lidmember 26 is further provided with a flap section 42 which may be foldedinto a portion of the housing member 24 in a sealed condition to keepthe materials therein such as cookies or the like from dehydrating.

It has been stated that the housing means 16 may include the wheelsupport assemblies 22 or could be supported on the bottom wall 28 ifdesired. When using the wheel support assemblies 22, the bottom wall 28is provided with semi-circular cut-out or punch-out portions on oppositesides as indicated at 44 in FIG. 4. The semicircular punch-out portions44 are moved downwardly to provide a support for the respective wheelsupport assemblies 22.

Each wheel support assembly 22 includes an elongated shaft member 46operable to receive a wheel member 48 on opposite ends as shown in FIG.4. Each respective shaft member 46 is supported through a hole 50punched out of respective ones of the punch-out portions 44.

The connector means 18 may be provided with one of two embodiments beingan exterior connector assembly 52 or an interior connector assembly 54.The exterior connector assembly 52 includes two generally rectangularmagnetic members 56 each having an adhesive strip 58 on one side thereofconnected to respective upright end walls 32. The magnetic members 56may be of a thin sheet material and may be supplied as already attachedto the upright end walls 32 or could have an outer covering which may beremoved for attaching the magnetic members 56 to the upright end walls32 through the adhesive strips 58 when converting from the originalcontainer structure to a toy structure.

In the other embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the interior connectorassembly 54 may be provided with two magnetic members 56 each having theadhesive strip 58 on one side thereof. The box structure 12 could besupplied with the magnetic members 56 already connected to therespective interior surfaces of the end wall 32. In this embodiment,nothing would be required of the user of the box structures 12 as themagnetic members 56 are already attached and ready for usage.

Also, a package could be provided within each of the housing means 16having the magnetic members 56 with the adhesive strips 58 on one sidethereof and the wheel support assemblies 22 with the shaft members 46and wheel members 48 therewithin. This auxillary package can be removedand the subject items applied in the proper position on the housingmember 24.

In the use and operation of the box structures 12 of this invention, itis seen that they are provided with the attractive train indicia thereonbut could be provided with other indicia such as simulation of acaterpillar, snake, etc. The box structures 12 are provided with thehousing means 16 having the connector means 18 and, if desired, with thewheel support assemblies 22. It is noted that a plurality of the boxstructures 12 can be magnetically coupled one to the other so as toprovide a large amount of interconnected box structures 12, which, canbe connected and disconnected as desired. It is noted that the bottomwall 28 of the box structure 12 may be provided with the semi-circularpunch-out portions 44 which can be moved downwardly and have the centralhole 50 punched out. One of the shaft members 46 can be inserted inaligned ones of the holes 50 and a wheel member 48 mounted on oppositeends thereof providing easy movement on a support surface.

It is seen that the connectable box structures of this invention providesimple container means which can be used to transport and support foodproducts or the like therewithin. After usage or consumption of its foodproducts, the box structures can be utilized to provide a toy assemblyhaving magnetic means on opposite ends for easy connection. It is notedthat the box structures of this invention provide structures that areeconomical to manufacture, simple to assemble, and presents a veryenjoyable toy assembly for childrens play.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferredspecific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that thisdescription is tended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A box structure that is readily connected with a plurality of similarbox structures to simulate a train structure, comprising:

a. a housing means having connector means thereon;

b. said housing means including a rectangular box structure so as topresent a container to support and transport food products or the like;

c. said connector means including a magnetic member attached to saidhousing means for interconnecting adjacent ones of said box structure;

(1. said housing means including a housing member having opposed uprightparallel end walls;

e. said magnetic member having an adhesive strip on one side thereof tobe connected to said upright end walls of said housing member; saidmagnetic member from a thin sheet material and of a rectangular shape;and

f. whereby when said box structure is connected with one of saidplurality of similar box structures, the end walls of the connected boxstructures will be spaced apart a distance no greater than twice thethickness of said thin sheet material.

2. A box structure as described in claim 1, wherein:

a. said connector means having said magnetic members attached to anexterior surface of the said upright end walls, and

b. said magnetic members covering a substantial portion of the area ofsaid end walls to achieve sub stantial magnetic holding force.

3. A box structure as described in claim 1, wherein:

a. said connector means including each of said magnetic members attachedby said adhesive strips to interior surfaces of said upright end wallsfor attaching adjacent ones of said box structures, and

b. abutting ones of said end walls of said connected box structures willhave contact in a common plane for maximal attraction under magneticforce.

1. A box structure that is readily connected with a plurality of similarbox structures to simulate a train structure, comprising: a. a housingmeans having connector means thereon; b. said housing means including arectangular box structure so as to present a container to support andtransport food products or the like; c. said connector means including amagnetic member attached to said housing means for interconnectingadjacent ones of said box structure; d. said housing means including ahousing member having opposed upright parallel end walls; e. saidmagnetic member having an adhesive strip on one side thereof to beconnected to said upright end walls of said housing member; saidmagnetic member from a thin sheet material and of a rectangular shape;and f. whereby when said box structure is connected with one of saidplurality of similar box structures, the end walls of the connected boxstructures will be spaced apart a distance no greater than twice thethickness of said thin sheet material.
 2. A box structure as describedin claim 1, wherein: a. said connector means having said magneticmembers attached to an exterior surface of the said upright end walls,and b. said magnetic members covering a substantial portion of the areaof said end walls to achieve substantial magnetic holding force.
 3. Abox structure as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said connector meansincluding each of said magnetic members attached by said adhesive stripsto interior surfaces of said upright end walls for attaching adjacentones of said box structures, and b. abutting ones of said end walls ofsaid connected box structures will have contact in a common plane formaximal attraction under magnetic force.